Data Engineer vs MLOps Engineer: Which Pays More?
Side-by-side salary comparison by city, experience level, and career growth outlook. Data reflects current market rates.
Data Engineer
Build and maintain data pipelines, warehouses, and ETL infrastructure.
MLOps Engineer
Build and maintain infrastructure for deploying machine learning models at scale.
Data Engineer earns more on average — the national median is $40,370/year (41%) higher than a MLOps Engineer. However, salaries vary significantly by city, employer, and experience level — see the city-by-city breakdown below.
Data Engineer vs MLOps Engineer — Salary by City
National median figures in USD across top cities.
| City | Data Engineer | MLOps Engineer | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Francisco, CA | $202,499 | $144,519 | Data +$57,980 |
| New York, NY | $131,540 | $119,390 | Data +$12,150 |
| Seattle, WA | $105,430 | $139,997 | Data $34,567 |
| Austin, TX | $153,836 | $107,475 | Data +$46,361 |
| Chicago, IL | $154,010 | $108,552 | Data +$45,458 |
| Boston, MA | $179,962 | $133,124 | Data +$46,838 |
| London, UK | £108,711 | £79,867 | Data +$28,844 |
| Toronto, Canada | CA$181,115 | CA$130,108 | Data +$51,007 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a Data Engineer or MLOps Engineer earn more?+
A Data Engineer earns more on average. The national median salary for a Data Engineer is $139,500/year, compared to $99,130/year for a MLOps Engineer — a difference of $40,370 (41%).
Which has better career growth — Data Engineer or MLOps Engineer?+
Data Engineer roles are growing at 34% YoY while MLOps Engineer demand is growing at 52% YoY. MLOps Engineer has stronger near-term demand growth.
Can you switch from Data Engineer to MLOps Engineer?+
Yes. Many professionals transition between these roles, especially since both are in the same category. Shared skills include: Python.
Which is harder to automate — Data Engineer or MLOps Engineer?+
MLOps Engineer has a lower AI automation risk (22% vs 42%). Based on Oxford Martin School and McKinsey 2023 analysis.